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Today, Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado RailNet Inc. (NKCR) announced it will acquire two southwestern Nebraska lines totaling about 89 miles from Burlington Northern Santa Fe. On Nov. 13, the 435-mile short line will begin operating the lines, which run between Oxford and Franklin, and Culbertson and Imperial.

Owned by North American RailNet Inc. and formed in 1996, NKCR now will operate about 524 track miles in three states.

The transaction will "benefit the customers on the lines by providing them with the flexible local service options provided by NKCR while continuing to provide the long-haul reliability of BNSF," said NKCR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rob McKenney in a prepared statement.

The short line will interchange with BNSF in Oxford for traffic originating or terminating between Oxford and Franklin, and in McCook, Neb., for traffic originating or terminating between Culbertson and Imperial.

"We believe NKCR has the local business development and operating focus to benefit the customer base along these lines in southwestern Nebraska, while still enabling customers to take advantage of BNSF's network reach, connections with other railroads in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and marketing opportunities," said BNSF Vice President of Network development Pete Rickershauser.

Last month, North American RailNet's Illinois RailNet Inc. acquired two northern Illinois lines totaling 25 miles from BNSF. North American RailNet also owns and operates Alberta RailNet Inc. and Georgia & Florida RailNet Inc.